Marathon Dinner on Day Three: Le Chapon Fin in Bordeaux City

Our package with our tour company included a dinner at Le Chapon Fin, the very traditional 1 Michellin * restaurant within walking distance of our apartment downtown. Le Chapon Fin is also owned by Sylvie Cazes, the same woman who owned the travel company who was arranging our tours, so it’s no accident that the famed restaurant appeared on our itinerary.

The interior is very unusual, with rockery carved “caves,” a sort of lattice structure around the soaring high ceilings and an overall ambiance that made Christina giggle and declare that it felt like being inside a cross between a jewel box and a “Little Mermaid” movie.

The food, however, was no laughing matter. This very serious meal in Chef Nicolas Frion’s restaurant began at 8:00 pm, and at nearly midnight, with still one more course to tackle, we finally cried “uncle” and they packaged up and sent the final dessert course home with us.

Our sommelier for the evening, Alexander, did a fantastic job of surprising us with one fun discovery and perfect pairing after another. Here’s the wine line-up, and some photos of the fantastic food – we admit – there were a few delicious courses we devoured before realizing we hadn’t snapped a photo – and we truly lost count of how many courses there were! These are not at all the exact food and wine pairings, but you’ll get the picture!

2011 Bell-Air Blanc – white orchard fruits, clean sea air and a hint of gravel, crisp acids on the long fuit filled finish. Great match with the razor clams.

2010 L’Espirit de Chevalier – ripe melon, rounder in the mouth, but with lemon acidity keeping it lively, medium finish.